Roundabout swing



C- L. M BRIDE ROUNDABOUT SWING July 31, 1951 Filed April 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 M Em July '31, 1951 Filed April 9, 1946 V C. L. M BRIDE ROUNDABOUT SWING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 31, l 95l ROUNDABOUT SWING Charles L. McBride, Iampa, Fla., assignor to Joy Toys, 1110., Tampa, Fla a corporation of Florida Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,807

4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus of the ride type and particularly to power operated swings capable of looping the loop, especially to toys of this type.

In the field of the ride type of amusement apparatus it is constantly endeavored to devise a new and different arrangement capable of moving a passenger carrier in a unique manner through a diverse series of movements that are designed to create a thrill in a passenger. Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a machine that is entirely difierent from prior art apparatus and which is capable of moving a passenger carrier through a new and diverse series of motions. It is a further objective to provide an adaptation of the apparatus as a toy that is interesting to operate, amusing to watch, simple in operation, and economical in construction.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by an apparatus comprising a supporting structure having one or more, and preferably two, arms pivotally mounted thereon for circular move ment in a vertical plane, preferably one of the arms being mounted on each side of the support. Passenger carriers are mounted at the ends of the arms in such a manner that they are free to pivot about an axis coincident with the length of the arms and also about an axis perpendicular to the first-mentioned axis. The arms are pivoted in opposite directions by a differential transmission driven by a reversible motor, 'so that they may be swung to and fro in a gradually increasing arc.

In the preferred embodiment of atoy apparatus the motor is geared through the transmission so that it does not have suflicient power to drive the arms-from their lower vertical starting position past the upper'vertical position and through a complete circle. Instead, the drive system has only suflicient power to swing the arms through a minor arc whereupon the motor tends to stall at which time it is reversed to drive the arms in the opposite direction,a1so through a minor arc until the motor does not quite stall whereupon the operation is repeated.

The gravitational force exerted on the arms, when swinging downwardly, augments the motive power so that the arms travel somewhat higher on each succeeding swing. This reversing routine is continued until the naturally increasing gravitational'force, combined with. the motive power, 'is sufficient to swing the arms past the top' center. -Thereafter the may. be pergrounded to the apparatus.

mitted to rotate continuously in one direction, thereby looping the loop, or they may be stopped at approximately top center and reversed through the full 360 degrees of their arcs. During this swinging movement the passenger carriers will tend to pivot erratically about their two axes due to the forces of gravity and momentum. Of course, in full-scale apparatus, body harness or straps would be necessary for the safety of the passengers when the carriers swing into inverted positions but these-members are not considered as an essential part of this invention.

In the toy embodiment the actual construction comprises an upright mast supported by a base member and having a horizontal shaft mounted at its upper end. sleeves, each supporting an arm and a drive pulley, are journaled on the shaft on either side of the mast. The drive pulleys are connected by belts with .pulleys mounted on either side of a differential gear mechanism so that they are driven in different directions. The differential is mounted on the mast near its top and is connected with the motor by a suitable shaft 'and gear transmission or by means of a flexible shaft. Any suitable transmission arrangement may be employed, andalthough not necessary, it is preferred that the sole limitation be that it does not increase the drive power sufficiently to swing the arms through a complete circle from a standing start. In order to enhance the appearance of the apparatus, small lamps are mounted adjacent the ends of the arms so that they may define the arm movements in lines of light. Current is supplied to the lamps by wires extending through thevarms, and the mast and horizontal shaft, respectively, toa rotary contact comprising a spring finger carried by each of the arms and bearing against a rounded contact seated in the ends of the horizontal shaft. The lampsv are grounded to the arms and the return circuit is through the apparatus itself; Similarly a single line is also run to the motor which is likewise The grounding through the apparatus is safe as the motor and lamps are designed to operate on a 12-volt' current and this feature simplifiesthe construction to a considerable extent. The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a .specific embodiment when, read in connection hangers.

with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. l is a side view in elevation of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in cross section; and

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation and partial cross section taken on. a line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

An amusement device of the present type to attain the objectives hereinbefore set forth has at least two totally distinct characteristics: it is capable of moving a passenger carrier through an entirely new and different series of motions; and it is adaptable as a toy that. is interesting and attractive to observe while having'simplicity and certainty of operation. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention, referring specifically to the drawings, is constituted by an apparatus includingia base member 1 supporting a mast 2 on which is mounted a horizontal' arbor or supporting shaft 3 which extends from opposite sides of the mast 2.

Sleeves 4 are journaled on the shaft 3 on opposite sides of themast 2', each having affixed thereto or joined therewith a radially extending arm 5 and a drive member 6' which is preferably in the form of a pulley so that there may be slippage, but may be of any desired type such as a sprocket or gear. The sleeves 4' are adapted to pivot about the shaft 3 and" are retained thereon by nuts 1 threaded on the shaft 3. The sleeves 4 are spaced from the nuts T and mast 2, respectively; by washers 8 and 9.

Pivots is are mounted on the ends of the arms 5 with their axes extendingv longitudinally of the arms and they support u-shaped hangers ii at approximately the center of the length of the Axially aligned pivots l2 are mounted on the ends of the U-shaped hangers l' and support the opposed ends of elongated passenger carriersor cars l3 that arev disposed substanti'ally'at right angles-to the axis or length of the arms-5. Thus it will be seen that the passenger carriers [3' may be swung on the arms about the shaft 3, and; according to the air pressure acting thereupon and/or the distributionof weight within the cars 13; they may freely swing on a radial axis about the pivots t: and/or they may freely swing about an axis on the pivots i2, that is-at right angles to the arms, or tangential to the are through which the carriers l3 swing, or these last two mentioned movements may occur simultaneously or alternately.

The pulleys 6. are connected by belts 5 with pulleys l6 which are mounted on shafts. l1 and IE respectively. The shafts I! and I8 are journaled in anti-friction bearings l9 and 2E) and support, in opposed relations, bevel gears 21' and 22 respectively. In order to maintain the shafts IT and I8 in perfect alignment while permitting the use of simple anti-friction bearings, the shaft I"! is provided with a reduced axial extension 23 adapted to be journaled ina corresponding axial socket 24 within the shaft l8.

The gears 2i and 22: mesh with a bevel gear 25 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 26 journaled adjacent to the mast 2. A bevel gear 23 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 26 and in mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 30 mounted on a horizontal shaft 3| on the opposite end of which is a spur gear 34 which is inmesh with a corresponding gear 35 mounted on a stub' shaft 35. A bevel gear 31 is carried by the stub shaft 36 and is in mesh with a bevel gear" 38 mounted on the shaft 39 of a motor 40.

In view of the foregoing description it will be seen that the motor 40 drives the gear 38 which in turn drives the gear 31 mounted on shaft 36. The gear 35 is driven by shaft 36 and in turn drives the spur gear 34 mounted on shaft 3!. The bevel gear 30 being mounted on shaft 3|, is driven thereby, and in turn drives the bevel gear 29 and its shaft '26, thereby driving the bevel gear 25 of the differential.

The bevel gears 2| and 22 being in mesh with the bevel gear 25, but on diametrically opposite sides, are driven in opposite directions so that their shafts I1 and I8 and the pulleys l6 carried thereby, are likewise driven in opposite directions. It necessarily follows that the pulleys 6 being connected with the pulleys l6, by the belts iii, are rotated in opposite directions and consequently rotate the sleeves 4 and arms 5 in opposite directions. The opposite movement of the armsisillustratedin Fig. 1 wherein eachgarm is shown swung to anangular position on opposite sides Of themast 2, different stages of their swinging being shown; infull lines and'in-broken lines.

Although the-arms 5 may be driven-by a system having sufficient, power to completely rotate them, in order to increase the interest, of operation and to insure the preliminary swinging of the arms, it is preferred to employ a drive system that lacks the power to rotate them from a standing start. Accordingly, the, power of, the motor 40; and the; transmissionxpower of the gear and pulley drive, is such; that; it is incapable of driving thearms from a stand-ing;pOsition Which is vertically suspended, past the top center of the, arc and througha; complete circle.

In otheriwords; the weightof the armsv should exceed the drive capacity of the motor andtransmission: means. Thus the: arms, are, driven" in one directionto; the-limit of the; drive means and then must be. driven, in the, opposite direction. Accordingly, themotor dll is preferably of, a type that is reversible, such as, fer-purposes. ofv illustration, a series wound motor having its brush leads connected to a double throw switch so as to permit the reversing of the brush, leads and thus the reversing ofv the direction; of the drive of the motor.

A's shownin Fig; 1,, brush leads 45- and 46 are connected to they opposed anchor terminals of a knife switch 41 whereasv leads, 4.8; and 49 are connected to one set of contact terminals onone end of the switch and then crossed over and connected with the opposite set. of. terminals on the other end of the switch. In the position shown in the drawing, the connection runs from lead 45 through one, blade of. the switch and to lead 49, and from. lead 46, through the; other blade of the switch to lead 48',,whereas by. swinging the knife l'lf to its opposite position the connection will runfromleadifi to;l'ead- AS-andfrom lead 45 to lead 49. It will be" understood that this operation merely reverses: the flow-of current to the brushes, thereby determining the direction of motor rotation. The connection with. a source of current is through, conductor 5|- and ground 52 with the field coils of the motor;

When the motor 40 is started it will, swing the arms from theirvertical suspended positions, through a minor arc and then. tend to, stall when the weight of the arms exceeds the transmission drive. The operator then moves the switch 41- to the opposite position, reversing; the motor and reversing the drivev of the arms. The; gravitational forces exerted on the arms will. cause them to swing downwardly and gain momentum which augments the power drive through the upper arc in the opposite direction, thus causing the arms to swing to a higher position before their weight exceeds the drive and the motor starts to stall.

By repeating the reversal of the switch 41, the arms are swung a little higher each succeeding time until eventually they swing through an arc of 180 degrees from the starting point and pass the upper center. At this time the reversing operation may either be continued and thereby swing the arms back and forth through substantially 360 degrees, or the reversing operation may be discontinued and permit the arms to rotate each in one direction, thereby causing the passenger carriers to loop the loop.

It may be noted that the transmission is shown as comprising spur and bevel gears which may be considered objectionable on the grounds that they are noisy whereas a worm drive would eliminate this feature. On the other hand it has been found that the worm drive eliminates the lost motion or backlash inherent in the spur gear train, particularly when the relatively heavier arms pass the uppermost positions and begin to fall. A train of gears has a tendency to absorb and inversely transmit a driving force,

whereas a low geared worm is almost unaffected by such a force and fails to absorb any of the shock of the falling arms.

In order to increase the attractiveness of the apparatus, when in operation, small lamps 60 are mounted on the arms 5 adjacent their carrier supporting ends. The lamps define the swinging of the arms in lines of light which greatly enhances the appearance of the apparatus, particularly at night. The lamps 60 are mounted in sockets 6| seated in, and grounded to, the sides of the arms 5, and are connected by single supply wires 62, the return ground being through the apparatus. The conductors 62'are connected with posts 63 which secure spring contacts 64 to the arms 5, insulating collars 65 spacing these members from the arms.

The spring contacts 64 bear against and pivot, with the arms, about rounded contacts 66 which are seated within insulating collars 67 that are mounted in the outer extremities of the shaft 3. The contacts 66 are connected with supply wires 68 extending through the shaft 3 which are joined with a supply wire 69 extending through the mast 2 and base. Three terminals are mounted in the base, terminal 10 being grounded to the base, whereas terminals II and 12 are insulated from the base and connected respectively with motor lead 5| and lamp lead 69. The

three terminals maybe connected with any suitable remote control and source of 12-volt current. Thus the operator can control remotely, the operation of the motor or the lamp 60.

Although certain specific embodiments have been shown and described, it is. obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed as new is:

1. An amusement device including an upright support, a horizontal supporting arbor mounted on said upright, arms having sleeve portions journaled about the end portions of said'arbor, respectively, and disposed radially of said arbor so that said arms may swing in spaced parallel vertical planes, a pulley fast on each sleeve portion, respectively, a source of power, a transmission means between said source of power and said arms including a differential, one side of the differential being connected by a belt to one arm and the other side being similarlyconnected to the other arm whereby the latter are moved in opposite directions, passenger carriers suspended from the outer ends of said arms and each mounted to have free movement relative to its arm.

2. An amusementdevice including an upright support, a horizontal supporting arbor mounted on said upright, arms having their ends pivotally mounted on the end portions of said arbor and disposed radially of said arbor so that said arms may swing in opposite directions and in spaced parallel vertical planes, a source of power, a transmission means between said source of power and. said arms including a differential, one side of the differential being connected to one arm and the other side connected to the other arm and a slippable drive between each side of the differential and said arms whereby the latter are moved in opposite directions, passenger carriers suspended from the outer ends of said arms and each mounted to have free movement about axes that are tangential and radial to its arc of travel.

' 3. An amusement apparatus comprising a stationary upright mast, a pair of arms each freely pivoted on a substantially horizontal axis to said mast and disposed on opposite sides of said mast to normally depend therefrom, passenger carriers supported by said arms at their free ends, transmission means supported by the mast and including a pair of gears driven in opposite directions and a belt slippage-drive connection between the gears and each of said arms, respectively, and a reversible motor connected with the input of said transmission means, whereby said arms may be swun in arcs back and forth in opposite directions to each other by reversing said motor coordinately with said swinging movement and may be swung in complete circles after,

momentum has been built up.

4. An amusement apparatus comprising an upright mast, horizontal and radially disposed arbors fixedly disposed at the top portion of said mast, a sleeve freely journalled about each of said arbors and supported thereby to rotate thereabout, a passenger carrier connected to each of said sleeves, respectively, and normally depending therefrom, a transmission means including a gearing and a belt slippage-drive connection connecting each sleeve with said gearing, respectively, to impart rotatable movement to said sleeves, a motor operatively connected with said transmission means, and means for reversing said motor to cause the arms to swing back and forth when initiating the operation of said apparatus and until the momentum of said arms and carriers is sufficient to completely rotate the latter 360.

CHARLES L. MCBRIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Howa d V.- ....---..g-,-,., F b, .6, 1945 

